CCPLD L3 Understanding Safeguarding

Please read the scenario (Scenario 1) below carefully.

This scenario will form the basis of a case study, in which you must include the following:
a. An introduction which explains the concept of safeguarding children, young people and
vulnerable adults.
b. An explanation of the duties related to safeguarding of the professional involved in this
scenario.
c. The meaning of the term ‘significant harm’ in the context of safeguarding, outlining which
individual or individuals in this scenario are at risk of ‘significant harm’.
Your work must be word processed and submitted in the agreed format with your tutor.

Scenario 1:
Cherie is a youth worker employed by a further education college as a member
of the student guidance team. As part of her role, she helps plan and supervise
visits to the college by groups of pupils from local secondary schools, usually
aged between 14 and 16 years. During one such event, where 14-15- year-old
pupils are taking part in a health and social care department workshop, Cherie
is assigned to providing support for the lecturer delivering the activity. While
she is working with one group, Cherie overhears one of the female pupils,
Sophie, talking to a friend about her fifteenth birthday, which will be in a few
days’ time. Sophie expresses a wish to have a party or go out with friends, but
tells her friend that this will be impossible, as she has been missing school at
least one day a week lately, having become too afraid sometimes to leave her
mother, Julie, alone. Julie, Sophie says, has a history of mental health issues
and has been suffering from an episode of serious depression since she lost her
job a few months ago, but has not been to see her doctor or sought other help.
Sophie tells her friend that Julie is drinking alcohol a lot during the day and that
there is now hardly any food in the house, as Julie has largely stopped food
shopping and has very little money to give Sophie to buy any food. When she
has been drinking alcohol, Julie has also been telling Sophie that she wants to
kill herself. Sophie tells the friend that she doesn’t want to tell anyone else as
she is frightened, she will be taken into care.
1. What actions should Cherie take on hearing this conversation?
2. What responsibilities does she have related to safeguarding and the risk of
‘significant harm’ to any of the individuals concerned?